Additional Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein
As By Jupiter started production, Rodgers approached Oscar Hammerstein to collaborate on Oklahoma! centering on the fight between cowboys and farmers in rural Oklahoma. Hammerstein told him that if Hart could and would do the work, Rodgers should stay with his longtime partner, as it would kill Hart to be left out. But if Hart couldn’t work, Hammerstein was willing to step in. Hammerstein had been an operetta lyricist for most of his career to that point, but when he met Rodgers he quickly adapted to the comedic musical form.
The show proved a fast success, as were many of their subsequent works, such as a 1957 television production of Cinderella, Carousel (1945), Me and Juliet (1953), among other, even more famous works. Over their long-term partnership, the two would earn thirty-four Tony Awards, fifteen Academy Awards, and multiple other honors, including Pulitzer prices, Grammy awards, and Emmy awards.
